Woman killed when car strikes bridge overpass in Lexington

Published: Sunday, October 6, 2013 at 8:28 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, October 7, 2013 at 1:41 p.m.

A 24-year-old woman died and two others were injured early Sunday morning after their vehicle left the roadway and struck a bridge overpass over North Main Street, according to the Lexington Police Department.

Lexington Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 64 East near the North Main Street/Interstate 85 Business Loop interchange at 2:57 a.m.

A 2006 Honda Civic was traveling west on U.S. 64 when it left the roadway and struck the bridge overpass over North Main Street, a news release from the LPD stated.

The driver, Ashley Parks of N.C. Highway 150 North, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Anna Barney, 23, a passenger who resides on Lowe Drive in the Reeds community, was airlifted to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. A second passenger, Kayla Doby, 24, of City Lake Road, was transported by ambulance to WFBMC.

Monday, Barney was in critical condition, and Doby was in fair condition, a hospital spokeswoman said.

U.S. Highway 64 was shut down for the duration of the investigation, police said. Jamison Sears, a shift supervisor with the Davidson County 911 Center, said authorities cleared the scene at 8:01 a.m. Sunday.

Davidson County EMS, the Davidson County Rescue Squad, the Lexington Fire Department, Lexington Police Department and AirCare responded to the scene, Sears said.

“It’s still under investigation,” Lexington Police Capt. Robby Rummage said Monday regarding the fatal accident. “We are going to look into all the possibilities before we determine what the contributing circumstance was. I really couldn’t speak to 100 percent accuracy of what it is right now. I reserve that until the investigation is complete.”

Rummage confirmed all three of the women were wearing seatbelts. He said the vehicle, owned by Barney’s parents, was totaled. Rummage said officers are investigating to determine if alcohol was involved. He said the three women are close friends.

Barney and Doby “having their seatbelts on helped save them,” the captain said. “The driver, (Ashley Parks), had hers on, too. Unfortunately, the impact was such that she didn’t overcome it.”

Barney’s aunt, Donna Shoaf, said the three women, all nursing students, were celebrating Doby’s plans of getting married at the end of October prior to the crash. Parks and Barney have been members of Friendship United Methodist Church, the aunt explained, adding that Parks was very active in the church and led its liturgical dance team.

“Ashley was a very beautiful, vibrant lady, very strong in her faith (and) a leader among her peers,” said Shoaf, who also is a member of Friendship United Methodist Church. “She would do anything for her family and friends. She was a very giving person.”

Doctors believe Barney and Doby will survive, Shoaf said. The two women are facing surgeries after having multiple bone fractures.

Shoaf said Parks’ celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Friendship United Methodist Church on Friendship Church Road.

Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick.

<p>A 24-year-old woman died and two others were injured early Sunday morning after their vehicle left the roadway and struck a bridge overpass over North Main Street, according to the Lexington Police Department.</p><p>Lexington Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 64 East near the North Main Street/Interstate 85 Business Loop interchange at 2:57 a.m.</p><p>A 2006 Honda Civic was traveling west on U.S. 64 when it left the roadway and struck the bridge overpass over North Main Street, a news release from the LPD stated.</p><p>The driver, Ashley Parks of N.C. Highway 150 North, was pronounced dead at the scene. </p><p>Anna Barney, 23, a passenger who resides on Lowe Drive in the Reeds community, was airlifted to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. A second passenger, Kayla Doby, 24, of City Lake Road, was transported by ambulance to WFBMC.</p><p>Monday, Barney was in critical condition, and Doby was in fair condition, a hospital spokeswoman said.</p><p>U.S. Highway 64 was shut down for the duration of the investigation, police said. Jamison Sears, a shift supervisor with the Davidson County 911 Center, said authorities cleared the scene at 8:01 a.m. Sunday.</p><p>Davidson County EMS, the Davidson County Rescue Squad, the Lexington Fire Department, Lexington Police Department and AirCare responded to the scene, Sears said.</p><p>“It's still under investigation,” Lexington Police Capt. Robby Rummage said Monday regarding the fatal accident. “We are going to look into all the possibilities before we determine what the contributing circumstance was. I really couldn't speak to 100 percent accuracy of what it is right now. I reserve that until the investigation is complete.”</p><p>Rummage confirmed all three of the women were wearing seatbelts. He said the vehicle, owned by Barney's parents, was totaled. Rummage said officers are investigating to determine if alcohol was involved. He said the three women are close friends.</p><p>Barney and Doby “having their seatbelts on helped save them,” the captain said. “The driver, (Ashley Parks), had hers on, too. Unfortunately, the impact was such that she didn't overcome it.”</p><p>Barney's aunt, Donna Shoaf, said the three women, all nursing students, were celebrating Doby's plans of getting married at the end of October prior to the crash. Parks and Barney have been members of Friendship United Methodist Church, the aunt explained, adding that Parks was very active in the church and led its liturgical dance team.</p><p>“Ashley was a very beautiful, vibrant lady, very strong in her faith (and) a leader among her peers,” said Shoaf, who also is a member of Friendship United Methodist Church. “She would do anything for her family and friends. She was a very giving person.”</p><p>Doctors believe Barney and Doby will survive, Shoaf said. The two women are facing surgeries after having multiple bone fractures.</p><p>Shoaf said Parks' celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Friendship United Methodist Church on Friendship Church Road.</p><p>Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick.</p>